Bob reports 85 migrating raptors today. Swallow-tailed Kite 5 Mississippi Kite 67 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 12 Some north winds midday brought some birds. Otherwise the skies were empty. Three guests from Kingwood today. The photo is Sara Harrison’s from yesterday. A ball of kites!
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/29/21 (2544 raptors)
Bob reports 2,544 migrating raptors today. Osprey 1 Swallow-tailed Kite 8 Mississippi Kite 2471 Cooper’s Hawk 2 White-tailed Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 60 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Due to north winds produced by Hurricane Ida we skipped over our first three-digit day and moved right on to a four-digit day. Sara Harrison and Marvin Masters helped out today and their help … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/28/21 (7 raptors)
Bob reports 7 migrating raptors today. Mississippi Kite 2 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 3 Swainson’s Hawk 1 There was a lot of rain in the area and the wind was all over the place in the afternoon. The next few days might be interesting with the north winds produced by Hurricane Ida. Stay safe Louisiana! Joe Kennedy helped out … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/27/21 (7 raptors)
Bob reports 7 migrating raptors today. Mississippi Kite 3 Broad-winged Hawk 4 One of the Broad-wings was a nice adult, the first of the season. There was rain in the AM but it turned into a nice day. Lots of White Ibis and 2 Black-chinned Hummingbirds.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/26/21 (64 raptors)
Bob reports 64 migrating raptors today. Swallow-tailed Kite 15 Mississippi Kite 23 Northern Harrier 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 19 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Thunderstorms around all day, but there wasn’t much rain at the point. Other birds included an immature male Black-chinned Hummingbird and lots of swallows and dragonflies.
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of August 23, 2021
By Susan Heath I was on vacation last week so the oystercatchers had to live without me. I’m sure they enjoyed the week off! Other than the last oystercatcher chick and checking on the skimmers there really isn’t much to do out there this time of year. Alan and I were joined by John Wright this week. We headed out … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/25/21 (58 raptors)
Bob reports 58 migrating raptors today. Osprey 1 Swallow-tailed Kite 7 Mississippi Kite 6 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Broad-winged Hawk 36 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Sarah Harrison and Linda Hoffman helped out today.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/24/21 (1 raptor)
Joe Kennedy reports one migrating Mississippi Kite today. I guess the birds knew it was Bob’s day off. Other species seen included Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, 5 Olive-sided Flycatcher, 2 Alder Flycatcher, 9 Black Tern, 7 Anhinga, 9 White Ibis, 3 hummingbirds, 25 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. If anyone wants to be at the hawk watch every day and count gnatcatchers I … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/23/21 (41 raptors)
Bob reports 41 migrating raptors today. Osprey 1 Mississippi Kite 20 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Broad-winged Hawk 12 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Four Black Terns and a Pileated Woodpecker was banging away on an old post. Also a gator in the bay! It stormed the last two hours, but there were good thermals prior to that.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/22/21 (8 raptors)
Bob reports 8 migrating raptors today. Cooper’s Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 6 Swainson’s Hawk 1 A large kettle of frigatebirds and several Olive-sided Flycatchers accounted for the non-raptors.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/21/21 (23 raptors)
Bob reports 23 migrating raptors today. Swallow-tailed Kite 8 Mississippi Kite 3 Cooper’s Hawk 6 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 4 Peregrine Falcon 1 Joe Kennedy helped out today.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/20/21 (18 raptors)
Bob reports 18 migrating raptors today. Swallow-tailed Kite 11 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Broad-winged Hawk 3 Swainson’s Hawk 1 12 Frigatebirds and 6 spoonbills added some diversity to the day. Marvin Masters helped out today.